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“I ask for your prayers”: Newly Appointed Catholic Bishop of São Tomé and Príncipe Diocese

Mons. João de Ceita Nazaré, appointed Bishop for the Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe on 9 January 2024. Credit: Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe

The newly appointed Catholic Bishop for the Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Central African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe has appealed for prayers for the success of his Episcopal Ministry.

“I ask for your prayers, so that God who is merciful will look down from above up on us and ensure the success of this mission,” Mons. João de Ceita Nazaré told journalists on Tuesday, January 9 soon after his appointment was made public

The 50-year-old São Toméan Bishop-elect added, “Let us work together in this great project, which is the construction, edification of this Church.”

“It is only with unity that we will be able to succeed,” Bishop-elect Nazaré said, and implored, implored, “We also ask St. Thomas and St. Anthony to intercede for us so that this task of ours will always be according to God's will.”

Born in August 1973 in Trindade, São Tomé, Bishop-elect Nazaré was ordained a Priest in August 2006.

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The holder of a licentiate in theology and Portuguese literature from the Catholic University of Portugal and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, respectively, also served as Vicar General of São Tomé and Principe Diocese, head of the diocesan Caritas and Radio Jubilar, and lecturer at the University of São Tomé and Principe.

Members of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) have welcomed and thanked Pope Francis for the appointment of Mons. Nazaré.

In a Tuesday, January 9 statement, CEAST Spokesperson, Bishop Belmiro Cuica Chissengueti, says, “On behalf of CEAST, we welcome and thank the Holy Father for this appointment, and at the same time we pray for the ministry of the new Bishop.”

“May he be the shepherd for all the people of God in São Tomé, Priests, Religious, Lay people, men and women of goodwill and all those who seek meaning for their lives in the Church,” CEAST members add.

Once he is Consecrated, Bishop-elect Nazaré will be at the helm of the 1,001 square kilometer Diocese that was established in November 1534 as the Diocese of Tomé from the Metropolitan See of Funchal, Portugal.

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João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.